ZIP code
12936
in Essex, New YorkPopulation 691
57.69/ 100
Ranked #6,653 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #800 of 1,730 New York ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Child-care access
1.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
1.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
73.9%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Mammography
80.7%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST81stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
5.1%
in the bottom 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST30thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
13.8%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS19thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
4.6%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS85thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
32.8%
in the bottom 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS26thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Essex, New York (ZIP 12936) comes out in the top 21% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,653rd) and the top 46% of New York (800th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: childcare is in the top 0.8% nationally, recreation resides in the top 3.3% nationally, and modeled colon screening rests in the top 5.1% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled mammography sits in the top 7.8% nationally, and utility shutoff settles in the bottom 13.5% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability registers in the bottom 12.8% nationally, and tree cover stands in the top 15% nationally. Modeled transportation lands in the bottom 17% nationally, and uninsured is in the bottom 6.9% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, childcare runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 05491, about 0.2 miles away.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
5%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
12993
New Yorkshares a border
Score 57.05
Closest healthier
05491
Vermontabout 0.2 mi away
Score 61.06
Similar health profile
12819
New York99% similar profile
Score 57.94
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 33.2% | 29.6–36.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.6% | 34.5–42.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.3% | 11.2–13.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.4–9.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 6.6–9.9 |
| Depression among adults | 19.6% | 16.6–22.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.6% | 9.8–13.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.7% | 36.4–45.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.7% | 26.4–39.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.1% | 10.6–15.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.1% | 3.8–6.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.0% | 78.2–83.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.5% | 79.4–85.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.2% | 89.6–92.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.9% | 69.8–77.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.3% | 60.8–67.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.7% | 74.6–86.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.5% | 12.9–18.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.2% | 9.5–15.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.8% | 20.2–29.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.8% | 27.3–38.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.2% | 14.2–20.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.3–16.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.1–16.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.4% | 9.6–13.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.3% | 25.8–35.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.2–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.4–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.5% | 12.7–18.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.0–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 3.8–5.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.9% | 18.5–25.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 7.7–12.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 6.6–10.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 6.8–10.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.8–6.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.3% | 25.9–35.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.0% | 4.2–6.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.5% (2.5–22.6%) n=1,734 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.0% (0.0–13.1%) n=1,734 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.1% (1.2–17.5%) n=1,743 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 42.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 31.8% (13.9–62.1%) n=1,743 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (0.0–9.7%) n=1,730 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 5.7% (0.0–28.9%) n=1,730 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 91.5% (81.1–98.3%) n=1,730 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.2% (14.2–45.5%) n=1,730 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.2% (40.9–94.8%) n=1,730 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.0% (0.0–6.6%) n=1,730 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.8% (0.0–28.7%) n=1,746 |
| Single-parent households | 76.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 54.0% (36.7–74.5%) n=1,716 |
| Population 65+ | 24.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.0% (12.0–33.2%) n=1,746 |
| Median age | 55.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.6–56.1) n=1,733 |
| Median household income | $77,321 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $81,837 ($55,470–$145,610) n=1,626 |
| Median home value | $290,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $247,700 ($121,180–$801,380) n=1,629 |
| Median gross rent | $910 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,162 ($782–$2,359) n=1,367 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NY median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 80.6 yr ± 0.82 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 80.9 yr (78.0–84.5) n=1,692 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.82 years of 80.6, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured